Before You Start a Job, Know What You Need

First and foremost, when you’re establishing a construction site, one of the first things you want to do is schedule some sort of dumpster service. Roll-off dumpsters come in various sizes, so choosing the correct size dumpster will depend, of course, on your budget, project size, and what you’re dumping.

Roll-off or Front-Load?

What’s the difference, you ask?

Well, roll-off dumpsters have an open top and are loaded onto a truck. Front-load dumpsters are practically covered trash bins – loaded from the front. You’ll typically see front-loads behind restaurants, strip malls, as well as apartment complexes.

Now, when it comes to clean-outs, renovations, and any size construction site, a roll-off will always be your best option. With roll-offs having open tops and being multiple sizes, garbage is easily managed. Regular pick-ups help make it easy to haul debris from construction and demolition sites.

Size Does Matter

Typically, roll-off dumpsters are available in three standard sizes. This includes 10-yard, 20-yard, and 30-yard options. Some dumpster rental companies, however, may also offer a 40-yard option. Be sure to check your local Dumpster rental agency for sizes before you commit to a job.

More times than not, a 10-yard dumpster will hold about three pickup truck loads. Simply multiply those numbers for an estimate of the storage space of each size dumpster.

For smaller projects, a 10-yard rental is plenty space to haul off small amounts of piping, re-flooring and renovation debris. It’s also a good size for disposing of concrete, dirt and other heavy materials – the sides are short enough to prevent overweight penalties.

On the other hand, a 30-yard dumpster is usually the largest dumpster available and holds between 4-5 tons of weight – that’s about 9 truckloads worth! This is a great size for construction sites. Before you book a dumpster this big, you should always make sure you have enough space and clearance for a truck to safely drop off and load a full dumpster, as well as permission to do so.

Typical Roll-off Pricing

Needless to say, dumpster prices will vary across the country. Therefore, the budget should be a key consideration when choosing a roll-off. Areas with a lot of roll-offs available typically have lower prices. High-growth areas could be more likely to have high demand and even higher costs. Always double-check.

However, availability isn’t the only factor. There are also areas with higher waste fees and other pricing considerations.

When you see a rental quote with “flat pricing”, be sure to ask what fees are included. Sometimes it can feel like you’re getting a great deal when in reality there were hundreds of dollars in “extra” fees tacked onto the final bill. What kind of fees? Well, weight limit fees, time limit fees, or fees for specific types of debris – typically heavy construction items.

Just as well, don’t assume that you can bypass paying for weight overages or other required fees. Always pay close attention to what’s included in your rental contract. If you try to overload your dumpster, throw out tires, batteries or hazardous materials, your actions will raise your bill. Now, if you’re curious about what’s included in a “flat” quote, take the time to find out before you rent.

One Last Thing…

First of all, it’s always good to keep a few things in mind before you attempt to book your roll-off dumpster. For instance, most rental services prohibit dumping yard waste, flammable materials, etc. Not to mention, no matter where you are on the planet or even in the universe, there’s no such thing as dumping a mattress without some sort of additional fee.

Next thing is, check on any local permits and parking regulations at your site. The last thing you need is the city handing you a bill because you didn’t carry the right permit for your dumpster.

Last but definitely not least, be sure to set a pick-up date and give yourself enough time to complete the job. If you fail to plan your timeline, you could end up one of two ways. One, you’ve now a dumpster sitting on your site for too long or two, you’re paying additional fees to extend your rental time.

Give 5 Star Waste a call at (865) 988-9737 and talk with our dedicated team to get a quote on roll-offs, demolition and more.